Derek Jeter: Gamesmanship like Michael Jordan

Thus far, Derek Jeter has led the New York Yankees to five championships, only one short of what Michael Jordan did for the Chicago Bulls. And there’s another similarity–they both go for every advantage.

The Yankee captain, who does not own a regular-season MVP, made himself a candidate for an Emmy on Wednesday night in a game for first place against Tampa Bay. After apparently being hit by an inside pitch, he spun around and grabbed his arm. The umpire duly awarded him first base, and he came around to score on a home run. Only problem, as the video shows: The pitch hit the knob of his bat, not his elbow.

This being baseball, what he did is called gamesmanship, not cheating.

“It’s part of the game,’’ Jeter said afterward. “My job is to get on base.’’

Opposing manager Joe Maddon agreed. “If our guys had done it, I would have applauded the great performance.

Jeter has a very well-defined style of play, and it certainly involves borderline chicanery.

Take, for example, his infuriating habit of jackknifing away from pitches on the inside corner. He absolutely flings his body backward in a violent manner, even on pitches that have as much chance of hitting him as they do John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman up in the broadcast booth. But this selling job has gained him countless balls that should have been strikes. This doesn’t make him a bad person, but it does mean we should put a hold on the canonization ceremony. In the field, he is the master of the elaborate swipe tag, a maneuver designed to sell safes into outs.

The 36-year-old shortshop is having his worst season statistically. Probably the best overall measurement is OPS (on base percentage plus slugging average). Jeter’s is .698 compared to his lifetime average of .837, and is even below the league average of .835. In the field, he still makes spectacular jump

Derek Jeter shouts for help from an umpire. (Getty Images)

throws, but his range has become suspect.

Jeter’s contract expires after this season, but there’s no question the Yankees will bring him back, he’s a gamer and a winner. like Jordan. To cite just one of Jordan’s similar moves, let’s look at his pushing a Utah defender out of the way with a few seconds to go in the sixth game of the 1998 Finals to get an open shot, knowing a foul wouldn’t be called in that situation. Derek, were you watching?